CM Naidu Slams Jagan, Orders High-Level Probe into Tirupati Laddoo Controversy

CM Naidu Slams Jagan, Orders High-Level Probe into Tirupati Laddoo Controversy

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu alleged that Jagan Mohan Reddy, the state’s previous leader and current YSRCP head, changed traditional procedures for making Tirupati Balaji prasadam laddoos.

Speaking in Vijayawada on Sunday, Naidu claimed Reddy had defended his actions and said an official committee would look into the matter.

He stated that under Jagan’s watch there were major shifts in how ghee—clarified butter used in religious rituals—was purchased by the temple board: Suppliers no longer needed three years’ experience, nor did they have to have a Rs 250 crore annual turnover (about $37 million).

How come palm oil, which costs more than Rs 319, is being supplied to TTD at this price? he asked. There have also been allegations of appointments made by individuals lacking required faiths as well as accusations norms being broken over who can be chosen—all while selling off assets worth thousands of crores for cheap rates under one-year government tenure alone so far!

Naidu rebutted Reddy’s claim that the problem had become excessively politicized by saying, “Jagan is attempting to shift the focus away from his governance problems, but taking such actions will only further hurt religious feelings.”

He then instructed for an investigation to be launched at the IGP level while also pledging that temple management would strictly adhere to tradition in the future.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon afterward, however, Jagan Mohan Reddy called for Naidu to be disciplined over these comments, labeling his state’s chief minister a “compulsive liar” who manufactures disputes for political ends.

Reddy also defended how ghee (clarified butter) procurement processes have always been done after questions were raised about whether or not it changed since TDP times; indeed, there has been ‘no change’ in a procedure followed since decades back.

Yet concerns have persisted: Did they ever contain animal fat? This matter is now before the Andhra Pradesh High Court as well, following a petition from YSR Congress party leader Subba.

The Supreme Court is currently hearing a separate plea claiming that using non-cow ghee makes prasadam not only impure according to age-old Hindu customs and traditions but also hurts the sentiments of devotees.

Shamala Rao, Executive Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), has verified that they are now checking for adulteration in ghee at outside laboratories—a step never previously taken.

She said if any suppliers are caught adulterating their products, they will be placed on a blacklist and went on to add, “We are also looking into setting up our own laboratory so we can test things here before use.”

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There will be further developments later this month when India’s Andhra Pradesh High Court takes up the matter; as tensions mount over the issue, which combines politics with religion, there is much interest in what happens next.